Heaven Hill has long been known as a place where people build meaningful, lasting careers. This Thriving Together Thursday, we are proud to recognize four of our most tenured team members, each celebrating more than 45 years with the company and representing a combined 189 years of service.

Emory McCullum – Celebrating an Impressive 50 Years

When Emory McCullum joined Heaven Hill in 1976, he was working for both Barton’s and Heaven Hill at the same time. Drawn to Heaven Hill’s people, culture, and long-term vision, he ultimately chose to build his career with Heaven Hill.

As Emory celebrates 50 years with Heaven Hill this year, his career reflects a legacy of hard work, adaptability, and continuous learning. He has served in a variety of roles across the business, crediting his coworkers and the opportunities provided by Heaven Hill for helping him grow both personally and professionally.

“I got along with everyone and was able to work in different positions within the distillery and bottling operations,” he says. Among his proudest accomplishments is his time serving as a Utility employee in the distillery, a role that allowed him to contribute across many areas of the operation.

For those just beginning their careers at Heaven Hill, Emory offers simple advice that has guided him throughout his five decades with the company: Maintain a strong work ethic.

That principle has been the foundation of Emory’s career. His knowledge, experience, and steadfast commitment continue to influence the people and teams around him.

Debbie Hurst – Retiring After 48 Years and Continuing Her Legacy with the Tourism Team

Just two years after Emory arrived, Debbie Hurst joined Heaven Hill in 1978. Looking for a stable opportunity to help support her growing family, she applied for an office position and was hired almost immediately.

What began as a temporary assignment evolved into a 48-year career filled with growth, new challenges, and opportunities to contribute to the company’s success.

After moving into the Accounts Payable Department, Debbie helped support Heaven Hill through decades of expansion. She played key roles in acquisitions, system implementations, and company-wide initiatives that helped modernize the business while supporting continued growth.

Looking back, Debbie is proud of the contributions she made, but even more appreciative of the people she worked alongside throughout her career.

“The people around me played a significant role in my personal and professional growth,” she says. “Given the number of years I have spent at Heaven Hill, you could say that I really grew up here personally as well as professionally.”

Debbie recently retired from Accounts Payable and decided to continue her Heaven Hill journey by joining our tourism team, where she now helps share the Heaven Hill story with visitors from around the world at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience.

Thomas “Gary” Smith – Building a Career Through Versatility and Commitment

Thomas “Gary” Smith began his Heaven Hill journey on March 12, 1979. Fresh out of high school and looking for employment, Gary learned about opportunities at Heaven Hill. He completed an application and started what would become a 47-year career.

Over the years, Gary built a reputation for versatility and reliability. Beginning as a Laborer, he advanced through several roles, ultimately becoming an Operator. Along the way, he learned to operate virtually every machine in the plant, becoming a trusted resource for teammates across the operation. Among his proudest accomplishments are working his way from Laborer to Operator and becoming the first Laborer assigned to second shift.

One of Gary’s favorite memories is the strong sense of camaraderie among employees. He recalls a time when nearly everyone at Heaven Hill had a nickname, and he was known as “Rev.” Those friendships helped create the family atmosphere that kept Gary connected to Heaven Hill for more than four decades. That sense of connection extended beyond the workplace, as Heaven Hill is also where Gary met his wife, Faye. The two were married for 33 years, making Heaven Hill not only the place where Gary built his career, but also where he found a lifelong partner.

“The people here genuinely care about one another and are always willing to help each other through difficult times. They have always felt like family, and that sense of family still exists today,” he says.

As he reflects on 47 years with Heaven Hill, Gary is most grateful for the relationships, memories, and opportunities that shaped his journey. His career stands as a testament to teamwork, perseverance, and the family spirit that continue to define Heaven Hill today.

Marsha Holt – Celebrating 45 Years of Service

In 1981, Marsha Holt joined Heaven Hill expecting what was intended to be a temporary opportunity supporting a bottling contract. Forty-five years later, she remains an important part of the organization.

Throughout her career, Marsha has worked across Shipping, Finance, Accounting, Compliance, and Sales Support, building expertise across multiple areas of the business while helping support teams throughout the company.

Among her greatest accomplishments has been successfully managing Control State Compliance since 2006. As the primary point of contact for compliance activities across 17 control states, Marsha has helped ensure the accurate and timely submission of product registrations, pricing, and supporting documentation required to keep Heaven Hill brands available in those markets. She has also built and maintained strong professional relationships with government alcohol beverage agencies, helping streamline communication, resolve issues efficiently, and strengthen Heaven Hill’s reputation for reliability and professionalism.

Marsha has had a front-row seat to the company’s evolution, witnessing firsthand the vision, values, and leadership that helped build Heaven Hill into the company it is today.

Executive Chairman Max Shapira, whose own Heaven Hill journey now spans 56 years, understands better than most the significance of milestones like these. Reflecting on the contributions of colleagues like Emory, Debbie, Gary, and Marsha, Max shared:

“We are incredibly fortunate to have colleagues whose dedication to Heaven Hill spans more than four and a half decades. Their commitment, leadership, and countless contributions have helped shape not only the growth and success of our company, but also the culture that defines us today. Through their example, they have fostered a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and purpose, leaving a lasting impact on generations of team members.”

Emory, Debbie, Gary, and Marsha’s unique stories are powerful examples of Thriving Together in action. We thank them for their years of service, the knowledge they have shared, and the countless ways they have helped strengthen Heaven Hill for future generations.